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NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:42 pm
by Earlybird
Calling all suspension guru's.

I'm considering upgrading my factory '91 NA6 sway bar to something a bit beefier but after having a look at these sites I'm now more confused than when I started :frown: Any help is much appreciated.

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/FRC_TUTORIAL/FCM_MSDS_TUTORIAL.htm

http://www.solomiata.com/swaybar.html


My car has Tein SS coilovers set at 8 clicks front and rear. Ride height is at lowest legal height (guard to wheel centre - 320 mm front and 335 mm rear).

I was considering 24mm front solid bar/standard rear combo. Is this a good street set up? Also, is there also really any difference between brands?

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:09 am
by Earlybird
No advice? :frown:

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:21 am
by KevGoat
Hi ...

There are quite a few threads on here and other Forums with discussions on swaybars and other suspension mods.

This thread, viewtopic.php?f=30&t=54268&hilit=best+swaybar is one that came to mind. It had a lot of handling and suspension discussion in general.

But just search here and other MX5/Miata forums and you'll find the info your after

:)

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 10:07 am
by 93_Clubman
Earlybird wrote:No advice? :frown:

If you'd included specifically what use you have planned for your MX5 you'd have probably got more of a response.

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:22 pm
by Earlybird
93_Clubman wrote:
Earlybird wrote:No advice? :frown:

If you'd included specifically what use you have planned for your MX5 you'd have probably got more of a response.


Thanks for your input, although I fail to see how it has positively contributed to my post.

I had stated that I am chasing a good handling setup up for "street use" along with what my current set is. Perhaps as a member with 5000 posts under your belt you could have politely asked me for more info in order to help a newbie out.

My "no advice?" comment was never intended as a gripe. Instead, it was a prompt as I was surprised that a forum with such a wealth of knowledge in here no one would take the time to tell me if I'm on the right track or point me in the right direction.

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:28 pm
by Earlybird
KevGoat wrote:Hi ...

There are quite a few threads on here and other Forums with discussions on swaybars and other suspension mods.

This thread, viewtopic.php?f=30&t=54268&hilit=best+swaybar is one that came to mind. It had a lot of handling and suspension discussion in general.

But just search here and other MX5/Miata forums and you'll find the info your after

:)

Thanks KevGoat :)

Will do some reading.

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:45 pm
by plohl
I have 8 and 6 kg/mm springs, 24mm front arb and stock NA6 rear arb. Daily set up is 14x6 with 185/60R14s POS tyres, ran at ~28psi.

It handles ok and is pretty neutral.

Most 24mm steel bars will be fairly close.

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:52 pm
by Magpie
I have 8/6 kg F/R springs (BC Racing ER shocks), 24mm front sway, no rear sway, rear strut brace, Torsten diff and 205/50/15 wheels, 29 psi.

I like the handling, however may set the toe to zero next alignment and a bit more camber.

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:45 am
by Earlybird
Thanks for your lack of positive input as well Dann.

It's those sort of smart a#se comments and attitude from very active forum members that put relatively new members off wanting to contribute to or be part of the mx5 community.

Have a nice day.

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:50 am
by 93_Clubman
Actually, it's the following sort of personal attack by you that puts off forumites or potential forumites wanting to contribute:

NitroDann wrote:
Earlybird wrote:
NitroDann wrote: Read the stats yourself. please.
Dann

I'd rather feed you peanuts while you sit in the f*cktard gallery and grow up.

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=56124&p=707945#p707945

What your original post actually stated was:
Earlybird wrote:I was considering 24mm front solid bar/standard rear combo. Is this a good street set up?


This is different to stating that you're 'chasing a good handling setup up for "street use"'.

The former indicates the possibility of other uses, while 'street use' doesn't indicate daily or weekender, or city, suburban, semi-rural or rural driving.

Nothing impolite about my response to your 'No advice?' post - simple statement of fact.

Didn't interpret your 'No advice?' post as a gripe - it was perfectly reasonable follow-up. But that was where reason ceased & flawed assumption on your part took over.

Your responses are far more revealing of your attitiude than ours.

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 12:23 pm
by KevGoat
Geez...chill folks!! The heat getting to everyone or what?!!

Personally, thought his first post quite explanatory, just some clarification required on couple technical points that could have been asked for with reasonable questions. Only thought I had about his initial post was that this has been covered in heaps of other posts. I'm sure we're all guilty of doing same.

That said, searching forums/threads often doesn't produce reasonable results, so sometimes people have to ask the same question...

Take a breath folks....



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Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:32 pm
by Magpie
Earlybird can you advise what your current wheel alignment is as well as tyre pressures. Sway bars should not be looked at in isolation they should be considered with all the other parts that keep the car in contact with the road.

The way I have been doing my car is the first get the alignment right, then had it corner weighted and finally tyre pressures this gives me a baseline to worth with.

I have no rear sway bar because the torsen diff does what the sway bar did, however I did increase the front bar to 24mm and have installed a rear strut brace. The rear sways job is to keep the car flat and transfer weight to the outside wheel in a corner by lifting up the inside wheel (simple explanation).

Next I have been playing with the shocks and adjusting rebound and dampening, I have a good idea of what works on the track just now need to play with the settings for road driving. Plan is to go full soft on everything then do small adjustments (both rebound and dampening can be adjusted on the ER's). My other half will be happy because she hates the track settings when we are doing a weekend drive.

On the passenger thing I can now feel the difference in my car when there is and isn't a passenger in it or extra weight in the boot, hence I'm very happy with the feel of the car at the moment.

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:48 pm
by KevGoat
Expanding on what Magpie said ... My "street use" is very ordinary "old man" driving and I do no track time. So my needs would differ enormously to someone who does spirited street or someone else who does mild street usage but needs something for occasional track use...

Thats why the prior comments about more info...

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Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:52 pm
by NitroDann
Im going to stay out of this thread after this post, but I got about halfway through Magpies last post and stopped reading when I got to the second piece of wrong information and bad advice.
The diff does not replace an ARB, and the ARBs job isnt to transfer weight to the outside tyre.

Dann

Re: NA Sway bar upgrade

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:20 pm
by CaptainNate
Dann, Could you tell us what the proper use of said things is?
Im reading this thread closely as I'm soon to start doing a handling upgrade on my 92 NA6.

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